Rays vs. Nationals Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Monday, April 3, 2023

The Tampa Bay Rays (3-0) will vie for their fourth straight victory when they visit the Washington Nationals (1-2) on Monday at 7:05 PM ET on MASN. The Rays are listed as -183 favorites by sportsbooks, while the Nationals are +156 underdogs.

Tampa Bay’s Drew Rasmussen gets the start, and he’ll go against Washington’s Trevor Williams.

Rays vs. Nationals Odds

• Rays odds to win: -183
• Nationals odds to win: +156
• Spread: Rays -1.5
• Total: 8 runs

Rays vs. Nationals Promo Codes

Game Time and Information

• Date: Monday, April 3, 2023
• Time: 7:05 PM ET
• TV: MASN

Who Will Win Rays vs. Nationals?

Rays and Nationals Betting Trends (2022)

The Rays won 63 of the 106 games they were favored on the moneyline last season (59.4%).

In games it played as a moneyline favorite with odds of -183 or shorter last year, Tampa Bay finished with a record of 23-9 (71.9%).

Last season, the Nationals won 47 out of the 141 games, or 33.3%, in which they were the underdog.

Last season, Washington won 23 of its 75 games, or 30.7%, when it was the underdog by at least +156 on the moneyline.

The Rays combined with their opponents to go over the total 73 times last season for a 73-82-9 record against the over/under.

The Nationals and their opponents hit the over in 74 of their 159 games with a total last season.

Rays Stats & Insights (2022)

Last season the Rays were the 21st-highest scoring team in MLB play averaging 4.1 runs per game (666 total).

Tampa Bay averaged 0.9 home runs per game to rank 25th in the majors with 139 total home runs last season.

The Rays had the 17th-ranked batting average in MLB (.239).

The club struck out 8.6 times per game to rank 19th in the majors.

The Rays pitching staff ranked 12th in MLB last season with a collective 8.7 strikeouts per nine innings.

Tampa Bay’s 3.41 team ERA ranked fourth among all MLB pitching staffs.

Nationals Stats & Insights (2022)

The Nationals scored 603 runs (just 3.7 per game) last season, which ranked 26th in MLB.

Washington ranked 28th in Major League Baseball with just 136 home runs as a team.

The Nationals’ .248 batting average ranked 11th in the majors last season.

Washington showed patience at the plate last season, having the fourth-best rate of strikeouts per game (7.5) among MLB offenses.

The Nationals averaged the 23rd-most strikeouts per nine innings (7.8) in the big leagues last season.

Washington had the 29th-ranked ERA (5.01) in the majors last season.

Rays Key Players to Watch (2022)

Rasmussen starts for the first time this season for the Rays.

Yandy Diaz hit .296 last season with nine home runs and 57 RBI.

Randy Arozarena slugged 20 homers and finished with 89 RBI.

Harold Ramirez finished with a .300 average, six home runs and 59 RBI last season.

Isaac Paredes finished with a .435 SLG and 20 homers while driving in 45 runs.

Nationals Key Players to Watch (2022)

Williams has been named the starter for the Nationals and will make his first start this season.

Lane Thomas hit 17 home runs and had 52 runs batted in last season, while putting up a batting average of .241.

Keibert Ruiz hit .251 with 22 doubles, seven home runs and 30 walks.

Jeimer Candelario hit .217 a season ago with 19 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs and 29 walks.

Joey Meneses had 14 doubles, 13 home runs and 17 walks while batting .324.

Rays and Nationals Injuries

Rays: Tyler Glasnow: 15 Day IL (Oblique), Shane Baz: 15 Day IL (Elbow), Shawn Armstrong: 15 Day IL (Neck), Andrew Kittredge: 60 Day IL (Elbow)

Nationals: Corey Dickerson: 10 Day IL (Calf), Israel Pineda: 10 Day IL (Finger), Carter Kieboom: 10 Day IL (Finger), Stephen Strasburg: 60 Day IL (Ribs/shoulder), Tanner Rainey: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Cade Cavalli: 60 Day IL (Elbow), Victor Arano: 60 Day IL (Shoulder)

Rays vs. Nationals Prediction

Score Prediction: Nationals 5, Rays 3

Total Prediction: Under 8 runs

How to Bet on Rays vs. Nationals

Get more MLB Picks, read the latest MLB game previews, and view the latest live MLB lines on Betsperts.

If you are new to sports betting, read our in-depth guide on how to bet on Baseball and find the best MLB betting sites and promo codes.